The eagerly awaited night of glamour is set to make its return as the Filmfare Awards Bangla prepares for its 12th edition. Scheduled for March 18 at JW Marriott Kolkata, this award ceremony promises an unforgettable evening dedicated to honoring excellence in the Bengali film industry. The event date and key nominations were revealed during a press conference held at JW Marriott Kolkata, attended by notable figures including Actress Subhashree Ganguly, Jitesh Pillai (Editor-in-Chief, Filmfare), Sunil Agarwal (Chairman and Co-Founder, Joy Personal Care), and Poulomi Roy (Chief Marketing Officer, Joy Personal Care).

To officially launch the Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025, the ceremony began with a traditional lamp-lighting ritual. This was followed by the grand unveiling of the prestigious ‘Black Lady’ trophy, presented by Subhashree Ganguly and other esteemed guests. Reflecting on the inception of the Filmfare Awards Bangla, Pillai remarked, “In 2013, when I was approached to organize a Filmfare event for the Bengali film industry, I felt apprehensive. Having grown up admiring the works of Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak, I didn’t have connections with the newer generation. However, the Bengali film industry welcomed me warmly, affirming that this initiative was essential. Subhashree, along with luminaries like Prosenjit Chatterjee and the late Soumitra Chatterjee, helped me navigate the world of Bengali cinema, revealing the remarkable blend of storytelling and talent that characterizes it.”

Actor Subhashree Ganguly expressed her joy at being part of the trophy unveiling, stating, “They say dreams come true, but being here to unveil this trophy surpasses anything I ever imagined. I’m genuinely thrilled about this year’s Filmfare Awards and cannot wait to celebrate the art and artists recognized here.”

The night will be a spectacular showcase of talent, featuring dazzling performances by Subhashree Ganguly, Barkha Bisht, and Puja Banerjee. “Performing this year makes the occasion even more special, and I’m thrilled to be part of this grand evening,” Ganguly added. The hosts for the night will be Raj Chakraborty and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, adding their own flair to the event.

This year, ‘Bohurupi’ leads the nominations with 16 mentions, followed closely by ‘Padatik’ with 14 nominations, and both ‘Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale’ and ‘Khadaan’ securing 12 nominations each. The nominations span 25 categories, covering both technical and popular segments. Leading the Best Film category are films like ‘Ajogyo,’ ‘Bohurupi,’ ‘Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale,’ ‘Khadaan,’ ‘Padatik,’ and ‘Shontaan.’ In the Best Director category, notable nominees include Kaushik Ganguly (Ajogyo), Nandita Roy & Shiboprosad Mukherjee (Bohurupi), Pratim D. Gupta (Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale), Raj Chakraborty (Babli), Soojit Dutta (Khadaan), and Srijit Mukherji (Padatik).

The nominees for Best Actor (Male) feature Ankush Hazra (Mirza), Dev (Khadaan), Mithun Chakraborty (Shontaan), Prosenjit Chatterjee (Ajogyo), Shiboprosad Mukherjee (Bohurupi), Tota Roychowdhury (Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale), and Vikram Chatterjee (Pariah). The Best Actor (Female) nominations include Aparajita Adhya (Eta Amader Golpo), Jaya Ahsan (Bhootpori), Koushani Mukherjee (Bohurupi), Oindrila Sen (Mirza), Rituparna Sengupta (Ajogyo), and Subhashree Ganguly (Babli).

Subhashree Ganguly has received three nominations this year, two for ‘Babli’—Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) and Best Actress (Critics’)—and one for ‘Shontaan’ in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) category. Expressing her excitement in an interview with The Statesman, she stated, “Three is my lucky number; I was born on November 3. Receiving three nominations feels like fate, and if I win this year, it will be my third Filmfare Award. I’m truly excited and hopeful this could be my year.”

As the event approaches, the Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025 is ready to celebrate and honor the exceptional talents of the Bengali film industry.